Methods and apparatuses for applying weft hair extensions

ABSTRACT

Some implementations of this disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for applying weft hair extensions to a wearer&#39;s head by attaching a hair extension receiving apparatus to the wearer&#39;s hair. In some implementations, the hair extension receiving apparatus can include combs, clips, or any other attachment apparatus on one side to attach the receiving apparatus to the wearer&#39;s hair. The other side of the hair extension receiving apparatus includes a plurality of hooks. Once the receiving apparatus is attached to the wearer&#39;s hair (or before), the weft of hair extensions is inserted on the hooks of the hair extension receiving apparatus. By using implementations of the hair extension receiving apparatuses of the present disclosure, the time to apply hair extensions may be reduced and sewing or gluing may be eliminated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/648,392, which was filed on May 17, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for applying weft hair extensions to a wearer's head.

BACKGROUND

There are several existing techniques for applying weft hair extensions. Weft hair extensions can be sewn onto braided hair, glued onto loose hair, glued onto the wearer's scalp, or glued or sewn onto a wig cap placed on the wearer's head. Each of these methods can be complicated and time consuming. Each of these methods typically requires an experienced person to properly apply the weft hair extensions to the wearer's head. Additionally, the sewing methods can be painful if the pointed sewing needle used comes in contact with the wearer's scalp. The gluing method can be messy and also can be painful if the hot glue used in some methods comes in contact with the wearer's skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example receiving side of a hair extension receiving apparatus and the underside of the hair extension receiving apparatus, respectively.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example receiving side of a hair extension receiving apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some implementations of this disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for applying weft hair extensions to a wearer's head by attaching a hair extension receiving apparatus to the wearer's hair. In some implementations, the hair extension receiving apparatus can include combs, clips, or any other attachment apparatus on one side to attach the receiving apparatus to the wearer's hair. The other side of the hair extension receiving apparatus includes a plurality of hooks. Once attached to the wearer's hair (or before), the weft of the hair extensions are inserted on the hooks of the hair extension receiving apparatus.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example receiving side 100 of a hair extension receiving apparatus. FIG. 2 illustrates an example underside 200 of the hair extension receiving apparatus.

The receiving side 100 includes a plurality of hooks 110 for engaging the weft of hair extensions. In some implementations, the hooks may be in the form of the hooks used in hook and eye tape. In some implementations, each hook may have a hump in its wire. The humps of the hooks may prevent the weft of the hair extensions from slipping out of the hook. In some implementations, the hooks 110 are arranged along a plurality of rows. In some implementations, the hooks 110 are arranged in any configuration.

The underside 200 includes a plurality of attaching apparatuses (e.g., combs 210) to attach the receiving apparatus to the wearer's hair. In some implementations, the attaching apparatuses are sewn 220 to the base material 230 of the underside 200 of the hair extension receiving apparatus. However, the attaching apparatuses can be attached to the base material 300 in any other manner.

In some implementations, the base material 140, 230 of the hair extension receiving apparatus to which the hooks 110 and the attaching apparatuses 210 are attached, respectively, can be made of any material including nylon, stretchable mesh material, spandex, cotton, polyester, or any other material.

In some implementations, hook tape 120 (i.e., the hook side of hook and eye tape) is used to attach the hooks 110 to the base material 140 of the receiving side 100 of the hair extension receiving apparatus. In some implementations, the hook tape 120 can be sewed 130 to the base material 140 of the receiving side 100 of the hair extension receiving apparatus. In some implementations, the hook tape 120 can be attached to the base material 140 of the receiving side 100 of the hair extension receiving apparatus with an adhesive or any other manner.

Referring to FIG. 3, in some implementations, the hair extension receiving apparatus comprises a strip of material 300 having a receiving side that includes a plurality of hooks 310 extending along the length of the strip and an underside (not shown) comprising one or more attaching apparatuses (e.g., combs, pins, clips, etc.) to attach the strip to the wearer's head. The material can be any material including nylon, stretchable mesh material, spandex, cotton, polyester, or any other material.

In some implementations, the hair extension receiving apparatus may be configured as a u-part wig cap as shown in FIG. 1. In alternative implementations, the hair extension receiving apparatus may be any size or shape.

To apply weft hair extensions to the wearer's head, a hair extension receiving apparatus (e.g., apparatus 100, 200 or apparatus 300) is attached to the wearer's hair using the attaching apparatuses on the underside of the hair extension receiving apparatus. Once attached to the wearer's hair, the weft of the hair extensions is inserted onto the hooks (e.g., 110 or 310) of the hair extension receiving apparatus. In some implementations, the weft of the hair extensions is inserted onto the hooks of the hair extension receiving apparatus first and then the hair extension receiving apparatus is attached to the wearer's hair.

By using implementations of the hair extension receiving apparatuses of the present disclosure, the time to apply hair extensions may be reduced and sewing or glue may be eliminated.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in an embodiment” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail. 

1. An apparatus for applying weft hair extensions comprising: a piece of material having a first side and a second side wherein the first side includes one or more attachment apparatuses configured to attach the material to hair and wherein the second side includes a plurality of hooks configured to hold a weft of hair extensions.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more attachment apparatuses include one or more combs.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piece of material comprises a strip of material and the plurality of hooks extends along the length of the strip.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the piece of material is configured as a u-part wig cap.
 5. A method of applying weft hair extensions using the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising: attaching the piece of material to hair using the one or more attachment apparatuses; and inserting the weft of hair extensions on the plurality of hooks.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the one or more attachment apparatuses include one or more combs.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the piece of material comprises a strip of material and the plurality of hooks extends along the length of the strip.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the piece of material is configured as a u-part wig cap. 